Hydrangea plant named ‘Agrihydratwee’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘Agrihydratwee’, characterized by its upright and mounded plant habit; strong roots and stems; freely branching habit; and large inflorescences with blue-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Agrihydratwee’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea, botanically known as Hydrangea hybrida and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Agrihydratwee’.

The new Hydrangea is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program was to create new Hydrangea cultivars with strongstems, large inflorescences and attractive flower color.

The new Hydrangea originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor on Apr. 15, 2001 in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, of a proprietaryselection of Hydrangea hybrida identified as code number 20 118-02, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofHydrangea hybrida identified as code number 200132-01, not patented, asthe male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Glandorf,Germany on Mar. 15, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea by vegetative cuttings in acontrolled environment in a greenhouse in Aalsmeer, The Netherlandssince Mar. 15, 2004, has shown that the unique features of this newHydrangea are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Agrihydratwee has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Agrihydratwee’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Agrihydratwee’ as a new and distinctcultivar of Hydrangea:

-   -   1. Upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Strong roots and moderately strong stems.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Large inflorescences with blue-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Hydrangea differ from plants of female parentselection primarily in branching habit as plants of the new Hydrangeaare more freely branching than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea differ from plants of male parent selectionprimarily in flower color as plants of the male parent selection havelight blue-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the cultivarBela, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,099. Plants of the newHydrangea differ from plants of the cultivar Bela in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than and not as        vigorous as plants of the cultivar Bela.    -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea have smaller leaves than plants        of the cultivar Bela.    -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea and the cultivar Bela differ in        flower color as plants of the cultivar Bela have lighter        blue-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the unique appearance ofthe new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ from the color value cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newHydrangea. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Agrihydratwee’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used in theaforementioned photograph and in the following description were grownduring the winter in De Kwakel, The Netherlands, in 15-cm containers ina glass-covered greenhouse and under conditions which closelyapproximate commercial production conditions. During the production ofthe plants, day and night temperatures averaged 17° C. Plants of the newHydrangea were about one year old when the photograph and descriptionwere taken.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea hybrida cultivar Agrihydratwee.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea            hybrida identified as code number 20 118-02, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea            hybrida identified as code number 200132-01, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 14 days at            temperatures of 23° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 18 days at            temperatures of 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five            weeks at temperatures of 18° C.        -   Root description.—Thick; whitish brown in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form/growth habit.—Upright and mounded plant habit; inverted            triangle. Moderately strong lateral branches; moderately            vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 30 cm.        -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 30 cm.        -   Branching habit.—When pinched, freely branching with about            five lateral branches per plant.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 18 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Internode length: About 5 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Strength: Moderately strong. Color: Close to 146C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 12 cm.        -   Width.—About 8 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic to obovate.        -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.        -   Base.—Obtuse to cuneate.        -   Margin.—Dentate to serrate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Rugose; glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: Close to 137A.            Developing foliage, lower surface: Close to 137D. Fully            expanded foliage, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation,            146D. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Close to 146D;            venation, 146D.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single sterile and fertile flowers            arranged on terminal panicles; panicles large and globular.            Flowers face upright to outward. Flowers persistent. Flowers            not fragrant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering during the            summer in Northern Europe.        -   Flower longevity.—Sterile flowers last about four months on            the plant; fertile flowers last about one month on the            plant.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering; about 50 sterile            flowers per panicle and about 30 fertile flowers per            panicle.        -   Panicle height.—About 5 cm.        -   Panicle diameter.—About 14 cm.        -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 5 mm.        -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 8 mm.        -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 5 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Petals, sterile flowers only, fertile flowers without            petals.—Arrangement: About four in a single whorl. Length:            About 3.5 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 157D. Fully opened, upper surface:            Close to 100C. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 100D.        -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity per flower: About four or            five in a single whorl. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About            3 cm. Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture,            lower surface: Rugose, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close            to 100A. Color, lower surface: Close to 100B to 100C.        -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity per flower: About four in            a single whorl. Length: About 3.5 mm. Width: About 2 mm.            Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: Close to 100A. Color, lower surface: Close to            100B to 100C.        -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Angle: About 45° from vertical.            Strength: Strong. Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 98B.        -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Angle: Mostly upright. Strength:            Moderately strong. Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 98C.        -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers only; sterile flowers            without reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower:            About eight. Anther shape: Conical. Anther length: About            1 mm. Anther color: Close to 98C. Pollen amount: Abundant.            Pollen color: Close to 155D. Pistils: Pistil quantity per            flower: About three. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Stigma            shape: Oval. Stigma color: Close to 155A. Style length:            About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 101D. Ovary color: Close            to 145D.        -   Seeds.—Length: About 0.5 mm. Diameter: About 0.1 mm. Color:            Close to 200C.-   Disease/pest resistance: Under commercial production conditions,    plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be resistant    to pathogens or pests common to Hydrangea.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown    to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 3° C. to about 38°    C.

1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘Agrihydratwee’ asillustrated and described.